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More and more cities around the world have been making public transport free, which offers many benefits. As the US seems to be emerging out of the pandemic and ridership is expected to remain low for a while, it has been suggested that more American cities should make their metro and bus services fare-free.
Read:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/interactive/2021/public-transportation-free-fare-future/
The trend of making intra-city rides on public transport started in Europe and in the US it was Kansas City that pioneered it. Washington and Los Angeles are reportedly considering it, and there is a proposal (‘Freedom to Move Act’) in Congress to fund such initiatives around the country. [https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/02/free-public-transportation-is-a-reality-in-100-citiesheres-why.html]
There are many obvious benefits of free ridership.
* More people in buses or metros means fewer people in private vehicles. And fewer private vehicles on roads means less vehicular emissions, among the primary reasons of climate change.
* The pandemic has been an especially difficult time for lower-income groups, and the Biden administration is going extra mile to give them a helping hand. As the economy is recovering and as small businesses, supermarkets and restaurants return to the normal, more people are getting jobs. Free ridership can help them in a small way to earn their livelihood. It could form part of Biden’s ambitious infrastructure revamp plan.
For more, see:
https://www.uitp.org/publications/full-free-fare-public-transport-objectives-and-alternatives/
On the other hand, critics oppose such public subsidy as it puts tax funds to use for only a section of society. It can lead to wastages too, and freebies are known to promote inefficiencies in the system. From the climate action perspective, the more efficient way to curb emissions is to directly make the private vehicle owners pay for it through taxes.
On Pros and Cons:
https://www.gov1.com/community-development/articles/pros-cons-making-public-transportation-free-Jz3LDt1L3yUKgv0o/
A scientific study of impact of fare-free public transport on travel behavior:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016604622030301X#!